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When Vietnam and the Philippines kicked off the football competition of the Southeast Asian Games on Thursday, the sea of empty seats raised eyebrows among organizers and fans.

While the official attendance for the Group B opener was announced as 2,000, barely 400 spectators were in the stands to watch Vietnam’s 3-1 win. In the second match, in which Burma edged Laos 3-2, less than 100 Burmese fans and about 300 security officers were present.

Rachmat Gobel, director general of the SEA Games organizing committee (Inasoc), said after the matches that time was too tight to sell more tickets.

“The schedule was changed and it wasn’t possible to prepare tickets with such a tight deadline for the opening game,” he said on Thursday. “Fortunately, Indonesia didn’t play on Day 1. It would’ve been a big loss for us if Indonesia played.”

Instead, limited tickets costing Rp 25,000 ($2.80) were sold.

Despite an uninspiring start, Rachmat said he was confident Inasoc could provide tickets for the opening and closing ceremonies and for every event.

Tickets are available online at Rajakarcis, but fans have complained about difficulties in exchanging their vouchers for actual tickets. They have also complained about changing prices.
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Without them Ina chance to grab gold in women team and WD will seriously declined

GreyMel withdrew at last minute and give their spot to Anneke/Nitya. It's a right decision, Greys still affected by injury from Final Taipei GP Gold. they lost from unseeded pairs in Denmark SSP and French SS. Anneke/Nitya is in good form, this will make Greys recovery faster hopefully. They are in top game when Greys got the injury, almost beat top KOR WD. It's really unfortunate.

GreyMel withdrew at last minute and give their spot to Anneke/Nitya. It's a right decision, Greys still affected by injury from Final Taipei GP Gold. they lost from unseeded pairs in Denmark SSP and French SS. Anneke/Nitya is in good form, this will make Greys recovery faster hopefully. They are in top game when Greys got the injury, almost beat top KOR WD. It's really unfortunate.

THE SAIL IS SET, There Is No Turning Back!All the agitation and anxiousness regarding the preparation of the upcoming SEA Games XXVI/2011in Palembang and Jakarta is definitely not without basis. But, this shall not ‘stop us in our tracks.’ Off course not, because once the sail is set, there is no turning back.No matter what ‘color’ your skin, as long as you are an Indonesian citizen who loves this country, and are proud and have been longing for the glory this country deserves, the dignity of Indonesia, now it is time to hold hands to give and spread positive energy to support the upcoming largest sporting event in Southeast Asia.Rest assured, the Southeast sporting event, SEA Games XXVI/2011in Palembang and Jakarta will successfuly run on time as planned, from 11 to 22 November.As children of the nation, we definitely give our highest hopes that COME ON INDONESIA, YOU CAN DO IT are doing their best to run the event. There are no words as ‘give up’ or ‘can’t’And as the children of this nation, we realize that the SEA Games is not the reponsibility of the government and Inasoc alone. We are just as responsible to offer a successful Games and in turn, celebrate this accomplishment. There are so many things we can do. For one, pray and provide the ultimate support for a successful event. We need to strive to be the perfect host and fight to gain the best achievements, to win the overall champion that has long been lost from our hands.We must spread the spririt of COME ON INDONESIA, YOU CAN DO IT! Whenever we have the chance – through various social media, is one way – to demonstrate to the world that INDONESIA is capable of organizing the Southeast Asian sporting event. This also doubles as confirmation that all Indonesian citezen are enthusiastic and supportive of the event. We have prepared ourselves in becoming the perfect host by our sweat and tears, to provide the best facilities available.Every single children of this country is willing to give their prayers and support for all the Indonesian sports heroes so that they will be able to give the best they can in re-seizing our past sporting heydays. We shall fight to become the best, the largest, the OVERALL CHAMPION of the GAMES!If not us, the children of this beloved country, who else will provide the utmost support through prayers and hard work to run a successful Sea Games XXVI/2011in Palembang and Jakarta,That is why, Children of the Nation, from Sabang to Merauke, shout and yell together, Come On Indonesia, You Can Do It!”

Having been paraded across the country during the last two weeks, the SEA Games torch arrived in Palembang on Monday morning. The South Sumatran city is its final destination.The torch, leaving Jakarta on Saturday evening, reached Palembang via Musi River on board the Tunas Wisesa 3 ship.The torch arrived in the South Sumatra capital at about 5 a.m., with former badminton player Icuk Sugiarto scheduled to deliver the torch to South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin at Boom Baru Port in Palembang at midday.The torch will be paraded around Palembang by 36 runners from South Sumatra, before being stationed at the Jakabaring Sport City complex, where the 26th Games will be officiated.The torch was lit from an eternal flame in Merapen, Central Java, on Oct. 23, before being paraded from Borobudur Temple in Central Java, to Yogyakarta, Semarang, Komodo Island in East Nusa Tenggara, Jayapura, Makassar, Balikpapan, Samarinda and Jakarta.

The Indonesian badminton team has made a change to its squad members just a few days before the beginning of the 26th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, citing declining performances among squad members.

The team’s coach for mixed doubles, Richard Maenaky, confirmed that he had replaced world No. 9 duo, Fran Kurniawan and Pia Zebadiah, with the world’s No. 21 pair, Muhammad Rijal and Debby Susanto.

“I had to make the decision because Pia and Fran failed to show solid cooperation between them,” Richard said on the sidelines of a media and athletes gathering in Jakarta on Monday, referring to their poor performance in the Denmark Open and France Open.

“They started to blame each other. OK, I thought, that’s it. My job is not only to handle them; I have other pairs to focus on,” Richard said, referring to world No. 4 Tontowi Ahmad-Liliyana Natsir and Rijal-Debby.

Frans and Pia were reportedly eliminated from the Games’ squad on Oct. 25 following their defeat in the first round of both the Denmark and France Open tournaments recently. Richard has a trial plan for the pair: to separate them for the upcoming Macau Open on Nov. 29-Dec. 4. Frans will be paired with Shendy Puspa Irawati, while Pia’s partner is still undecided.

Taufik too old, Simon not world class

TODAYUnsure if they can win men's singles gold, Hartono says Indonesian badminton is in crisis

by Low Lin Fhoong
04:46 AM Nov 09, 2011

JAKARTA - Twenty years ago, anyone who said the day would come when Rudy Hartono would admit uncertainty over whether Indonesia could win the men's badminton singles on home turf at a SEA Games, would have been deemed crazy.

The badminton legend is arguably the greatest player in the history of the sport, winning an unprecedented eight All-England titles (1968 to 1974, 1976) before claiming the coveted men's singles crown at the 1980 World Championships on an unforgettable night in front of a roaring home crowd here.

Indonesia once ruled men's badminton, and Hartono was the face of the sport.

But the country's fortunes have been on the decline since the 1990s, and there is a chance they could miss out on the men's singles here.

The badminton programme for the 26th SEA Games will take place at the Istora GBK Senayan Jakarta from Nov 12 to 19, and Indonesia will feature veteran Taufik Hidayat and Simon Santoso in the men's singles.

Speaking to Today over the phone yesterday, Hartono said: "It will not be easy for Taufik, but if he prepares well physically, then he can win gold.

"If not, then I think it will be difficult."

Taufik did restore the country's standing in badminton when he won gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and, for a time, he was the No 1 men's player in the world.

But his powers are waning and Indonesia have struggled to find a successor.

Taufik, a two-time SEA Games champion, has not won a tournament this season.

So poor is the country's production line of talent that the 30-year-old, currently the world No 8, is the highest ranked male shuttler from Indonesia. Team-mate Simon, 26, is the next best at No 11.

Vietnam's Nguyen Tien Minh, the world No 7, is expected to battle the two home favourites for the gold in men's singles.

There are seven gold medals in badminton (men's and women's team, men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles) up for grabs at the SEA Games.

Indonesia's governing body for badminton - Persatuan Bulutangkis Seluruh Indonesia (PBSI) - have set a target of at least four golds.

The Indonesians are favourites in all three doubles events.

As for the men's singles, Hartono said: "He (Taufik) is too old, and badminton is limited in age in the top ranks because it is so physical and needs so much flexibility.

"Hopefully, Simon can take over, but he is not a world-class player."

According to the 62-year-old, who is currently an adviser to the PBSI, the only way to stop the rot is for the government to take a proactive role and make badminton compulsory for all junior high students and senior students.

"We are now very far behind China, Korea and we have to struggle. If we don't do it, it will take us another 10 to 20 years to catch up," he warned.

Rudy Hartono speaking during a badminton clinic in Singapore November 2010. Photo by IAN DE COTTA

Jakarta. The digital countdown clock in Palembang, located on a busy roundabout leading to the famous Ampera Bridge, says it all.

With just two days to go before the cauldron is lit for the SEA Games, every minute will count as the organizers scramble to get venues and facilities ready for South-east Asia's biggest sports extravaganza. It is a race they are confident of winning, but the picture on the ground is worrying.

When The Straits Times visited the sprawling 300-hectare Jakabaring Sports City yesterday afternoon, dust swirled everywhere as thousands of workers dug drains, planted grass and installed the basic facilities needed for a major multi-sport event.

Pools of stagnant water and muddy embankments still line the roads leading to the main Sriwijaya stadium, where hundreds of student performers braved the mid-day heat to undergo rehearsals for the opening ceremony on Friday.

That is D-Day for the provincial capital of South Sumatra, which has struggled to pull the show together under the weight of government red tape, mismanagement and construction hiccups.

These include a well-publicized corruption scandal involving a former politician and a lengthy delay in government funding that forced the organizing committee to threaten to quit unless the money it needed was released.
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